Mechanical musical instrument.



P. B. KLUGH.

MECHANICAL NIUSI-CAL INSTRUMENT.

A PPLICAUON 1.11511 11011.19, 1910. 11511511111 sEP1.29, 1913.

1,183,740. Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

P. B. KLUGH.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPucAlo'N FILED N0v.19, 1910. RENEwEDsEPT.z9,19x3.

1 ,l 83,740. Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a. @Qmwj UNITED STATES PATENT FFI.

PAUL BROWN KLUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION' OF ILLINOIS.

:MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application fled November 19, 1910, Serial No. 593,206. Renewed September 29, 1913. Serial No. 792,479.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL BROWN KLUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments and especially to a type of instrument commonly called a piano player or player piano.

The present invention relates more particularly, although not exclusively, to the accentuation of certain notes or series of notes to bring out solo effects.

In my application, Serial No. 554,140, filed April 8, 1910, I set forth a solo device and broadly claim therein certain features of the solo -device set forth in this present application.

This present invention is an improvement upon the one set forth in my said co-pending application'. In my application, Serial No. 593,203, filed of even date herewith, I set forth operating mechanisms somewhat similar to those set forth herein, but my present invention contemplates broadly the grouping of certain operating mechanisms which may be, generally speaking, of the character set forth in my last mentioned application or other operating mechanisms suitable for the purpose in hand.

Generally speaking, my invention conteurplates the production ofl solo effects in a piano player or player piano by supplemental controlling mechanisms which control the piano action or power pneumatics, if such are used. In this present invention,

the mechanisms are arranged to control the.

notes in groups so as to materially reduce the number of supplemental controlling mechanisms necessary.

I will describe my invention more in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating several forms of carrying out my invention, in which: l

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a player piano with my improved controlling mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 2 is a modification thereof; Fig. 3 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of the mechanism shown in F ig.v 2; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the tracker board and associated music sheet; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of my improved arrangement.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, I show a mechanical musical instrument having strings 1 to be struck by the piano action, which latter involves the usual hammers 2 and the wippens 3, together with the associated mechanism of said action. The piano action is designed for uiperation by the usual keys 4 or Vthe vsupplemental actuating arms 5, which latter are controlled by the springs 6a. The arms 5 are designed for operation by the power pneumatics 6 through the interposition of the links or rods 7, and the power pneumatics 6 are controlled by the valves 8 which are connected by the tubes 9 to the tracker board 10. Supplemental or solo pneumatics 11 are associated -with the tracker board by means of the tubes- 1Q through the inter-position of suitable valve mechanism 13. The tracker board 10 is provided with apertures 14 and slits 15. A music sheet 16 has narrow perforations or openings 17 and wide perforations 18. The narrow perforations 17, all as set forth clearly in my said co-pending applications, operate merely with the apertures 14, whereas the wide perforations 18 control not only the apertures 14 but likewise their associated slits 15. Each note preferably has an aperture 14 and a slit 15. The tubes 12 leading to the solo pneumatics 11 are so designed that each serves a plurality of slits 15, in this instance ythere are three slits 15 so served bv each tube 12, there being three supplemental tubes 19 leading from each tube 12 to that number. of slits 15 in the tracker board. The solo pneumatics 11 control means which alfect the actuation of the arms 5 and, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each solo pneumatic controls a spring 20, shown more clearly in Fig. 3, which spring forms in this specific embodiment what might be called a removable stop or supplemental abutment for the arms 5, each stop 20 controlling preferably three arms .f3/in the embodiment herein shown.

The general plan of operation is this: The music sheet in its progress over the tracker board causes the operation of the power pneumatics', which in turnA operate upon the action. The removable stops 20 limit the total actuation to which the action may be subject normally. New, should it be desired to accentuate certain notes or possibiy a melody, such notes are presented by wide perfcrations 18 to cause the operation of not only the power pneumatics 6 but also the supplemental pneumatics 11 associated therewith, thereby controlling the piano action in such a way that louder notes will be struck. In this particular instance, the

controlling eii'ect is due to the removal of the springs or removable stops 20, thereby permitting the corresponding arms 5 and the power pneumatics G to move throughout their'fuli stroke and thus produce loud notes. Normally, the proper melody will be accentuated evenv though I control by one controlling mechanism the operating mechanisms for several adjacent notes, while at the same time I decrease the amount of mechanism necessary to a remarkable degree. 'The springs 20 are formed as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 and are connected to their solo pneumatics ll by means of the links 21, which links 2l are preferably nxedly secured to the springs 20. The springs are so made that they slide over the abutment 22 either into an obstructing position for the arms 5 or.. into a position clear of said arms.

In Figs. 2 and Il, I set forth a modification in which thesprings 20 operate between the abutment 23 and some intermediate portion of the piano action, in this instance the wippens 3, whereby I secure the same result. It will be readily apparent that this grouping` of operating mechanisms for solo control produces the desired result of accentuation of melody, at the same time reducing the total amount of apparatus necessary.

Certain features -herein set .forth are claimed in my copendinglapplication previously referred to, namely Serial No. 593,203, filed of even date herewith. Certain features are also disclosed and claimed in other copending applications filed of even date herewith, to-wit: Serial No. 593,204,

. tures, one of said sets of tubes having each of its tubes branched and Vconnected to a plurality of apertures.

2. In a device of the class described in combination, striking actions divided into groups, power pneumatics to operate the separate actions, an abutment, auxiliary abutments movable between said abutment and ymembers of each group of said actions, solo pneumatics for operating said auxiliary abutments, a tracker board having two sets of openings, and tubes connecting the openings in said board with the solo and power pneumatics respectively, the tubes of thev solo pneumatics being branched and each having as many connections with the tracker as there are actions in the group controlled by the associated solo pneumatic.

3. In a device of the class described in combination, a series of striking actions divided into groups, power pneumatics to 0perate the individual actions, an abutment, an auxiliary abutment normally positioned between said abutment and member-sof each group of said actions, and a solo pneumatic for withdrawing each auxiliary abutment from its normal position.

4. The combination of a tracker having a row of apertures, whereof consecutive apers tures are arranged in groups, and pneumatic mechanisms connected with said apertures, said mechanisms being arranged so that each one of the same is connected with a group of' tracker apertures.

5. The combination with a tracker having apertures arranged in groups, of pneu-v matic mechanisms each of which is Connected with the apertures of a group, said apertures being arranged to be uncovered by note perforations of the music sheet when same is in proper playing position.

6. The combination with a piano action, of a set of pneumatios for actuating the same, a second set of pneumatics in combination with means whereby one of the last mentioned pneumatics controls the operation of a group of the first mentioned pneumatics, a tracker board having apertures individual to the first mentioned pneumatics and also having other apertures arranged in groups, and means whereby all the apertures of a group control one of said second mentioned pneumatics.

7. The combination with a piano action, of a set of pneumatica for actuating the same, a second set of pneumatics in combination with means whereby one of the last mentioned pneumatics modifies the operation of a group'of the first' mentioned pneu matics, a tracker board having apertures in dividual to the first mentioned pneumatics and alsa having other apertures arranged in groups, and means whereby all the apertures of a group control one of said second mentioned pneumatics, said other apertures being individual to the pneumatics of the first mentioned pneumatics.'

8. The combination of a tracker having two sets of apertures, whereof the apertures of one set are arranged in groups, a set of Lieeneo striking pneumetics connected with and ini dividuei to the ungrouped apertures, end e second set of pneumetics iess in number than the first mentioned pneumetics', each of seid second set of pneuinatics controlling the operation of a plurality of the first inentioned pneumetics.

9. The combination of e. tracker having two sets of apertures, whereof the apertures of one set are divided into groups, set of pneumatics connected with and individual to the apertures of the ungrouped set, u second set of pneunietics less in number than the first set and each constructed to modify the action of e group of the first set of pneumatics, the groups into which the grouped apertures are divided corresponding to the groups et' the first set of: pneumutics and each groupv of tracker apertures being connected to e pneumatic of the second set.

10. The combination of e tracker having two sets of apertures, whereof the apertures of one set ere divided into groups, e set of pneumatics connected with and individuei to the apertures of the ungrouped set7 e, sec ond set of pneumatics iess in number than the first set and each arranged to control e group of the irst Set of pneumattics7 the groups into which the grouped apertures are divided corresponding to the groups of the first set of pneumatics and each group of tracker apertures being connected to a pneumatic of the second set, and the apertures of each of seid groups being individuel to the pneumatics of the first set of pneuinetics controlled by the pneumatic of the second set connected with said group.

in witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd dey of November, A. D. 1910.

.PAUL BRGVVN KLUGH. Witnesses: i

W. N. JOHNSON, N.. D. TOBIN. 

